Jackie Chan's son could face jail over drug charge

The son of Kung fu movie star Jackie Chan will stand trial in China on Friday on a drugs charge

Jaycee Chan (left) pictured with his father, actor Jackie Chan, could serve prison time

The son of kung fu movie star Jackie Chan, will stand trial in China on Friday on a drugs charge.

Jaycee Chan, 32, was formally charged last month after allegedly being found with more than 100 grams of marijuana and testing positive for the drug.

Chan and Taiwanese movie star Kai Ko, 23, were both arrested at his Beijing home in August last year. Mr Ko was released after a two week administrative detention for drug use, but Chan faces a bigger punishment for the more serious suspected crime of “sheltering others to take drugs”.

Drug-related crimes carry severe penalties in China, including death or life imprisonment in extreme cases. If convicted, Chan could face up to three years in jail.

Jackie Chan apologised for his son last year, saying he felt “ashamed” and “sad”. In 2009 he served as a goodwill spokesman for the China National Anti-Drug Committee in 2009, promoting anti-drug education.

Illegal drugs have become more popular in in China recently in tandem with the rise of a new urban class with greater disposable income.